Fire Survivors' Money Is No Good at New Record Shop

At the newest record store in Southern California, no one pays a cent. Altadena Musicians, founded by guitarist Brandon Jay after he lost his home, has launched a free vinyl shop for other people affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Stocked with about 3,000 donated records so far, the Altadena Music Center in Pasadena lets verified fire survivors reserve time slots and pick out up to 10 records a month. "We want to be here to help replace those items and support music in people's lives," Jay told LAist, noting that many survivors are focused on basic rebuilding costs.

The organization says it already has placed more than 1,500 instruments with survivors of the fires, as well, per Pasadena Now. Jay and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, are composers who also lost their recording studio and all but two of their instruments. The official opening Saturday includes a record drive in the afternoon and a party in the evening. On the shelves: the benefit compilation Gimme Shelter: Songs for LA Fire Relief, with Los Angeles-themed tracks from artists including Elliott Smith, Norah Jones, and the Flaming Lips, plus a version of "Burning Down the House" recorded by Jay and about 50 other musicians affected by the fires.